Mackay region man charged with rape, granted bail

A 28-year-old shift worker has been banned from Tinder-like apps while on bail but his case also raised red flags with a Queensland magistrate who questioned why it took a month for police to act on a rape complaint.

A Mackay region man has been granted bail after he was charged with allegedly raping a woman he met over a dating app.

A young shift worker accused of raping a woman at his remote property has been allowed bail as a magistrate questions why it took police a month to act.

He has now been banned from using any online dating app, as part of his strict release conditions.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard police took about one month to arrest the 28-year-old shift worker after the initial complaint was made in mid-March 2024.

This was revealed after an objection to bail indicated officers were concerned the man, who appeared via video link from the Mackay watch house, would be too big a risk if released.

“I can’t see in the affidavit what the objection’s about,” Magistrate Damien Dwyer said, adding there seemed to only be the officer’s opinion supporting the objection reasons.

“There’s no threats being made to interfere with any witnesses, there’s nothing at all to indicate to the officer that he’s going to interfere with any witnesses,” Mr Dwyer said.

Prosecutor Ruth Whisker said it was a “very serious offence” and said the objection was also on the “basis that this offending could occur again”.

“This complaint was made on March 15, the officer did nothing until April 24, she didn’t have any concerns like that on March 15 to April 24 did she?” Mr Dwyer said.

“She was aware of the very serious nature of the allegations on March 15... that’s when the complaint was made.

“And she wasn’t concerned enough from March 15 to (April) 24 to even get a warrant.”

Ms Whisker said it might not have been reported to this specific officer on March 15, to which Mr Dwyer said it had been reported to police at that time and nothing had been done.

The man, who has not been named yet in case it identified the alleged victim, is charged with raping a woman on March 13.

He is further charged with illegally possessing ammunition and a flick knife, which is deemed as a category M weapon, on April 24, 2024 at Homebush.

Mr Dwyer indicated he was going to grant bail and asked Ms Whisker what conditions prosecution wanted to impose - to which she requested no contact orders and a ban on using social media apps.

Mac Gray, of Fisher Dore Lawyers, argued there was not anything in the alleged offending “that would raise any concern about him being on social media”.

The court heard the prosecution was pushing for a blanket ban on using all social media apps under his bail conditions.

“What about Facebook with his friends, you’re asking me to stop that?” Mr Dwyer said.

“Why can’t he Snapchat his mother? It’s the dating app that’s my concern.”

Ms Whisker also submitted a condition preventing females at his home “other than family members”.

“Because that’s the incident location,” she said.

“It’s rural... anyone there is particularly vulnerable.”

But Mr Dwyer disagreed.

The man, who is a longterm local and works week/on, week/off, was granted conditional bail that included residential and no contact conditions, and he is not allowed to use the internet to connect with any online dating application.

The case was adjourned to July 10 for mention.

Originally published as Mackay region man charged with rape, granted bail